CHAPTER 24: Discoveries

"Do you think it's working?" Mistoffelees whispered.

Electra shook her head sadly. "Look," she said, pointed a claw at Jemima and Tumblebrutus, who were cuddled up together.

"I know, but Jemima seems a bit…distracted," Mistoffelees replied hopefully.

"No, she isn't. He's kissing her neck," Electra said bitterly.

"Oh." His voice filled with disappointment, Mistoffelees let his ears and tail droop. It didn't help when Jemima's soft giggle floated across the junkyard.

"Come on, Misto, let's try something else," Electra said, roughly pulling him to her and kissing him.

Caught off-guard, Mistoffelees' eyes widened considerably, before he forced himself to relax into the kiss. It would do no good for him to appear ill at ease with the kiss while they were acting under the pretence of being together. Feeling Electra's arms slip around his neck and her claws run through his headfur, Mistoffelees put his paws on his waist and drew her slightly closer – just enough to fool anyone into believing he was enjoying it. Then again, there was no point in lying to himself – he was enjoying it, which quite surprised him.

And he wasn't the only one. Although she was the one who had initiated it, Electra was still surprised at how good the kiss turned out to be. The softness of Mistoffelees' lips on hers was a new feeling for her, and she rather liked it. However, she quickly erased these thoughts, reminding herself harshly that she was only doing this for one reason: to make Tumblebrutus jealous. Peeking one eye open, she threw a quick glance in his direction, only to find him now paying attention to Jemima's lips. Electra closed her eye and leant into her own kiss more, making a show of affection towards the magical tom.

"Woo-hoo!"

The two cats quickly broke apart and looked up, flushed, to see Tugger grinning down at them.

"Don't you two make the cutest couple?" With a wink, he sauntered away.

"He had to do that, didn't he?" Electra grumbled angrily. When she received no reply from Mistoffelees, she turned to find him staring at her.

Slowly, Mistoffelees leant in and kissed her again, this time, softly and tenderly.

"What are you grinning about?"

Tugger looked up to see Bombalurina approaching him, her hips swaying as usual. "Oh, nothing. Just Electra and Misto kissing, that's all." He turned away from her. He was still angry with her for insulting Tatiana and didn't particularly want to talk to the red queen.

"Oh?" One eyebrow arched upwards in surprise. "I didn't realize they were together."

"Gee, you really are out of the loop, Bombie. Everyone knows they've been together for over a week – since before the Ball, in fact."

Bombalurina frowned, but quickly dropped in a flirtatious line in an effort to cover up for her lack of recent social knowledge. "Well, maybe I've just been too…distracted…by you," she breathed, moving closer to the tom and wrapping her tail around his thigh.

"Get off, Bombie," Tugger said, pushing the queen away from him and beginning to walk off. "I'm not in the mood." How quickly Bombalurina had been able to put him in a bad mood recently! Usually she was the one to put him in a good mood, but with Tatiana around…and Bombalurina evidently hating her…and Tugger fancying – well, loving – Tatiana…Bombalurina just hadn't been his queen of choice lately.

"Aw, c'mon, Tugs," she pouted, "you know you want me."

"No, Bombalurina, I don't," Tugger replied. He was tired of her games, tired of her nastiness towards Tatiana, and it showed in his voice.

A frown once more became apparent on the queen's face. She was confused – Tugger never used her full name. "Well, then, Rum Tum Tugger, perhaps I don't want you, either."

"Good." And with that, Tugger stalked off, his mood become fouler by the moment. He was really starting to hate that queen.

Etcetera bowled up to Tatiana, almost knocking the older queen over. "Tatiana," she sang out, "there's a handsome tom waiting for you at the entrance!" She giggled.

"Okay, tell him I'm coming." Tatiana turned to explain to Victoria. "I'm going home today. Mareeia – er, Jellylorum – is showing me the way and I'm taking Jerrie to meet my humans." She smiled happily.

"Um, Tats?" Etcetera spoke up. "It wasn't Jerrie I was referring to."

Tatiana frowned. "It wasn't?"

Etcetera shook her head. "It's another cat – no-one's seen him around before. Alonzo's with him. He was asking for you."

"But I don't know any other cats," Tatiana said, very confused. "I'd better go and find out what this is all about."

As Tatiana approached the junkyard entrance, she noticed a tall tom standing next to Alonzo. He was mostly white and a brown-rust colour, not unlike Plato, although he had a few splashes of black on his face and back. Also, his tail had a pattern of black rings alternating with white and the brown-rust colour. Somehow, Tatiana had the strange sense that there was something familiar about his tail, a thought which struck her as odd.

Alonzo was the first to speak. "Tatiana, this tom has been asking for you. Do you know him?"

Tatiana shook her head. "No, I don't."

"Right," Alonzo said, preparing to push the stranger outside the gates.

"Alonzo, wait." Alonzo paused, and she turned to the newcomer. "How do you know my name?"

The tom spoke for the first time since Tatiana's arrival. "My name is Perseus," he said simply. At Tatiana's blank look, he seemed to become slightly disheartened. "You don't recognize my name?"

Slowly, Tatiana shook her head. "Should I?"

"Well, I had hoped…but they obviously didn't tell you about me."

Tatiana frowned, becoming more and more confused. "Who?"

"Our parents."

Tatiana gasped while Alonzo and Etcetera looked on in shock. "What?" She suddenly felt her knees buckle, and she reached out for Alonzo.

Alonzo deftly caught her and helped her stand upright.

"You mean…you…you're my…my brother?" she whispered.

Perseus gave a small smile. "Yes, Tatiana. I'm your brother."

"How can we be sure?" Alonzo asked suspiciously.

Perseus turned around and pointed a black claw to his lower back. There, displayed distinctly, was a brown-rust crescent with a black spot near it.

Once more, Tatiana gasped. She gingerly reached out a paw and touched it. "Perseus…my brother. Oh, finally, my brother!" She flung her arms around the tall tom's neck as tears of joy began to trickle their way down her cheeks.

"Tatiana?"

The queen turned around at her mate's confused tone. "Jerrie!"

"Tatiana, 'oo is this?" he asked, coming up and protectively slipping an arm around Tatiana's waist.

"Jerrie, you'll never believe it. It's my brother!" she cried happily.

Mungojerrie eyed the tom in distrust. "Oh, yeah?"

"No, Jerrie, really. Look." She gestured to the markings on Perseus' back.

Mungojerrie's eyes widened. "They're…they're…"

"I know, they're like mine." She nodded frantically. "I can't believe it."

Perseus smiled. "I'm so glad I finally found you. I've been trying to find you for months."

"How did you know my name, though?" Tatiana asked.

Perseus shrugged. "I know mother always liked that name, and I heard she had two queens, so I figured one of them must have been named Tatiana. I took a chance. Tell me, how are they? I know Dad…passed on after I left."

"So did Mum," Tatiana told him quietly. "My…twin…died when was Mum having us."

"Oh."

Tatiana gently took his paw when she noticed his eyes grow misty. Feeling a squeeze from Mungojerrie, Tatiana suddenly remembered the toms hadn't yet been introduced. "Oh, Perseus, this is Mungojerrie…my mate." She smiled contentedly as Mungojerrie pulled her closer to him and offered a paw to Perseus in greeting.

"Noice ta meet ya."

"You, too. I can't believe my little sister is all grown up – with a mate and everything!"

Tatiana chuckled. "Come, we must get to know each other better. You'll have to tell me all about yourself and what you've been doing with your life," she told him, guiding him into the junkyard. The two toms in tow, she headed for the box she shared with Mungojerrie.

"So you've spent most of your life in Scotland?" Tatiana asked with interest.

Perseus nodded the affirmative. "Yeah. I've lived mainly in Glasgow, but I'm a bit of a nomad, I guess. I prefer to move around."

"Would you please tell me about our parents?" Tatiana asked softly.

"Sure."

Mungojerrie took the opportunity to tactfully slip off, knowing that the two would most likely want to be alone for the moment.

"'Ey, Jers?"

Mungojerrie's eyes searched the darkness when he heard Rumpelteazer's soft voice calling him. Finally seeing her outline, he padded over to her and signalled for them to move away from the two other cats. "Teazer, what are ya doin' 'ere?"

"Etcetera said somethin' 'bout a new cat wif yoo 'n' Tatiana. Is that 'im?" She nodded towards the pair.

Mungojerrie watched his sister, a seriousness in his eyes. "'E's 'er brother."

"What?"

Mungojerrie nodded.

"'Er brother? Oi didn't know she 'ad a brother."

"Oi knew, but Oi didn't 'xpect this," Mungojerrie told her. "She didn't even know 'is noime before tadoiy."

"Oh. Ya'll 'ave ta introduce me ta me 'ot brother-in-law loiter, then." She grinned.

Her brother merely rolled his eyes. "Oi'll introduce ya ta ya brother-in-law loiter, yeah."

"Oi 'ave a feelin' we're gonna git on reeeal good."

"There she goes, got another tom with her now. And he doesn't even belong in the junkyard!" Electra exclaimed, glaring at Tatiana and the new tom.

"Calm down, Electra," Mistoffelees said, gently placing his paw on her arm. "It's probably not like that at all. She must know him."

Electra snorted. "Don't give me that. I've already heard that from Victoria. That's how many toms now? Four? And she's probably got more we don't even know about."

Mistoffelees frowned. "Four?"

"Yeah, four. Mungojerrie, this new one, Tugger and Tumble."

"In case you hadn't noticed, Tumble is with Jemima. That's why we're doing this," he reminded her.

"She had him there for a while, at least," Electra returned, shrugging indifferently.

"Come on, Electra, just drop it for tonight. Hmmm?" His paw moved down her arm and he gently took her paw in his. Truth be told, he wished he could kiss her again. He had been pleasantly surprised the first time, and wanted to feel her lips on his once more. But he couldn't bring himself to do it. Not when they were alone. So he settled for watching her lips, avoiding contact with the eyes that so burned with jealousy.

He had been thinking about that kiss all day, and was beginning to wonder why. Afterall, it had all been part of the plan – sort of. But he couldn't get it – or her – out of his mind, and didn't know what to do about it. He wasn't… He mentally shook his head. No, of course he wasn't falling in love with her.

Was he?

Electra turned her head at that moment. "What are you looking at me like that for?"

It took Mistoffelees a moment to realize he had been staring. He quickly snapped out of it. "Uh, nothing," he muttered, looking away and blushing beneath his fur.

Electra eyed him, unconvinced. "Are you sure? You're looking kind of…flustered."

Mistoffelees' cheeks reddened even more. "Uh, no, no. I'm…I'm fine."

"Was there something you perhaps wanted to say?" Electra suggested.

"Uh…" He gulped. Before he could stop himself, he blurted out, "I can't stop thinking about this morning."

Electra looked blank. "This morning? What about this morning?"

"When…yeah."

"When what?"

"When you kissed me," he whispered fiercely, determinedly not looking at her.

"Oh, that," she said, trying to sound neutral. Inside, however, her heart was fluttering madly. What was he going to say about it? She decided to jump in before he had the chance to say anything. "I hope I didn't take you too much by surprise."

"Well, you did a little," the small tom admitted, "but it was kind of…nice."

Now it was Electra's turn to blush. "You…you really think so?" She was surprised, to say the least, that someone would think she gave nice kisses.

Mistoffelees nodded, clamping his mouth shut in embarrassment.

"Well…I kind of liked it, too," she confessed quietly.

Mistoffelees looked up, startled. "You – you did?"

Electra nodded and looked away.

"Oh."

The two sat in an awkward silence.

"Well, I guess we'd better turn in for the night," Electra said after a few minutes, breaking the silence.

"Yeah," Mistoffelees agreed. "Um, Electra?"

Electra turned expectant eyes towards him.

"Would you mind if I…kissed you again?"

Electra stomach flipped. "Ummm, I guess not." She paused. "You're not falling for me, are you?"

Mistoffelees shook his head. "No." Was that a lie? he wondered.

"Good." But even as she said it, her heart sank just a little. The young queen stayed still as Mistoffelees slowly leant in and gently took her lips with his. I'm not falling for him, either, she kept telling herself throughout the kiss, even though, when they parted, Electra found that she had actually quite enjoyed it.

"Goodnight, Electra."

"Goodnight, Mistoffelees."

The magic tom turned and disappeared into the darkness.

Electra sat there for a few minutes, her head resting on her arms. I can't be falling for him. That would screw up all ours plans. No, I can't love him. I don't love him. I love Tumblebrutus. Feeling only somewhat convinced, Electra stood and made her way back to her den.